If you asked 100 football fans to name one club that is famous for producing world class players through their academy, I’d argue that a majority would say Man Utd.
It’s a reputation that was formed thanks to Matt Busby, his assistant Jimmy Murphy, and head scout Joe Armstrong, who brought together the team known as the Busby Babes; and the reputation was cemented during the late 80s with Fergie’s Fledglings, and then the much more successful Class of ’92.
There was a good 30+ years between the Busby Babes and the Class of ’92 though, and although it pains me to say it, the club hasn’t managed to produce anything like it since. Many have shown promise, but for whatever reason, have not had the impact everybody had hoped for.
Sure there has been the odd Paul Pogba along the way, but while he has done well elsewhere, he didn’t really work out at United, despite this being where he honed his skills.
Well, it’s been a good 30+ years since the Class of ’92, so perhaps we are due another influx of top talent who will rise through the ranks into the first team and go on to serve the club well long term?
The following lads are all good candidates, with some already making the odd appearance, and others lighting up the pitch in under 18s games.
Marc Jurado
Marc came across to Manchester United from Barcelona in 2020, when he was 16, and progressed through the youth ranks incredibly quickly.
He’s a right back but can also push up and play as a winger, and since coming to United has already bagged himself an FA Youth Cup, and signed a professional contract in 2021.
He’s a solid defender with good awareness and positional skills but also plenty of pace, which is useful considering how often he likes to push up and join in on the attack. This adventurous side to his playing style also means that he can start counter attacks.
Although he hasn’t made his debut yet, Jurado was named on the bench against Nottingham Forest towards the end of the 2022/23 season. This was largely down to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both being injured, but it got people asking questions about the young Spaniard.
The 2023/24 season could be where Marc Jurado gets his debut though. Aged 19, he made 20 appearances for the under 23s in the Premier League 2 last season, and ended up with 3 goals and 4 assists… while playing right back. We’ll take that.
He was deservedly called up to train with the first team on several occasions too, so it seems his chance on the biggest stage of them all is due.
Kobbie Mainoo
Having been at the club since the age of 9 and being a local lad (he’s from Stockport), Manchester United can certainly claim Kobbie Mainoo as one of their own.
A physically adept central midfielder, Mainoo possesses a calmness that belies his age and allows him to control the game and progress play on the team’s terms.
His strength helps here, as he can confidently deal with tackles and protect the ball to retain possession.
Kobbie Mainoo, confidenceđpic.twitter.com/ynxCL5T3RY
â One United (@JustOneUtd) July 13, 2023
His work ethic is solid and he presses hard too – both excellent qualities for a Manchester United player.
Some people are calling him the new Pogba, which is no doubt meant as a compliment, but personally, i’d stay away from these sorts of comparisons, especially with players who never reached their full potential with the club!
Kobbie only signed his first professional contract in 2022, playing for the Under 21s team, but last season he made an appearance in the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the Premier League, doing well on each of those three occasions, so we can expect to see more of him during the 23/24 campaign, despite stiff competition in midfield.
Especially since he has now been promoted to the senior team.
Isak Hansen-Aarøen
Considered to be one of the best academy prospects there is at the moment, Isak Hansen-Aarøen came to United from Norwegian club Tromsø IL in 2020 when he was 16 years old, having already made his professional debut there when he was just 15 years old.
Another midfielder, Isak plays best in the centre of a 4-3-3 formation, but his intelligence, technique, and versatility make him useful in many situations.
He can defend and attack, his passing and control of the ball are excellent, and he also has a great first touch as well as a flair for dribbling. He needs to develop physically so he can go up against stronger players, especially in the air, but that will come with time, and he is an agile player which is another way to deal with powerful opposition players.
His ability to play anywhere in midfield, even out on the wing, makes him an exciting playmaker wherever he happens to be, and he is constantly moving and asking for the ball, while having an innate understanding of what is going on around him on the pitch.
Hansen-Aarøen made his EFL Trophy debut against Rochdale in 2020, and signed a professional contract with United in 2021, having also played in the Premier League 2.
He hasn’t graduated to first team appearances yet, but we might see him on the bench now and again in the 23/24 season. At 18 years old, Isak Hansen-Aarøen is at the point where he could start being tested at the highest level.
Alejandro Garnacho
This one doesn’t really count as he has well and truly arrived already, but as arguably the best player to come out of the academy for a very long time, he needs to be included, as he could just be the first in string of new home grown first team regulars.
Garnacho made 34 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 5 times, and has even earned his first few international caps, but Alejandro Garnacho is barely 19 years old, and Manchester United paid ÂŁ420,000 for him back in 2020 when he was just 16.
Ten Hag is clearly a fan and United supporters have made their feelings known too, clearly preferring him over Jadon Sancho, who cost the club ÂŁ73 million by comparison.
Alejandro won the FA Youth Cup with United and was also awarded the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year Award by the club in 2022, when he also made his first team debut aged just 17.
Since breaking into the first team last season, he has shown improved maturity and an ability to dribble and cut inside, whilst also not being shy of going in for a tackle. A tenacious player, he could sometimes do with making the easy pass rather than trying to take on a defender, but he is certainly a threat with indirect set pieces.
He has signed an extension to his contract until 2028 too, so he is mentally committed to the club long term, which is fantastic news.